Preparing Your Flock & Coop for WINTER

[MeepBeep]

The temperature outside must have been different each night, either that or your coop exists in an interdimesional rift where the laws of thermodynamics don't apply.

Just like a pot of warm water will come to a boil faster than a pot of cold water exposed to the same heat, cold water will freeze faster than warm water.

Warm water in many, but not all cases will in fact freeze faster then cold water this this has been proven for hundreds of years, and is called the Mpemba Effect... It doesn't contradict the laws of thermodynamics it contradicts the common understanding of thermodynamics, and shows our understanding of thermodynamics is not complete...

I think it is unlikely that one would witness the Mpemba phenomenon in two side by side chicken waterers.

Not unlikely at all, you can witness it pretty regularly in simple exerperiments...

You can even do the experiment in your own freezer using two bowls or cups of water started at different temps, and see it happen most of the time, it's common science experiment in schools and colleges to get the mind wondering...
.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I wasn't smart enough to think about running an experiment in my freezer, geez, glad someone is paying attention.

 

[MeepBeep]

I wasn't smart enough to think about running an experiment in my freezer, geez, glad someone is paying attention.

Just remember that the Mpemba effect is a statistical event, it doesn't happen all the time...

 

[mainechicklet]

So for those of us who have college degrees in math and science.......we could've saved the 1000's of dollars and just subscribed to BYC!!!

 

[TalkALittle]

I had thought it was a "phenomenon" and not likely but for those instances where all factors were controlled. Apparently it isn't as uncommon an occurrence. I think in "real world" application, given the number of factors that can effect the time it takes for a vessel of water to freeze (including what's dissolved in the water, whether the water is disturbed, the surface area that allows for evaporation, availability of nucleation sites for ice crystals to form) it is still probably not easy to recreate the experiment in the chicken coop. All it would take is for a couple of chickens to disturb the surface of one of the waterers to throw off the results. Might this be one of those times when what is true in theory doesn't matter much in practical application?

 

[Blooie]

It certainly would.

 

[Naliez]

I have a question for you guys! This is the shed we are going to use as a coop for our 3 big girls this winter. We live in NC, so there's a lot of humidity, but usually only a handful of days that get into the teens during the colder months. The problem I'm having right now, is that when it rains a lot, some water pools up in the shed. We need to move it, but there's no floor and the entire thing is bolted into the concrete. I don't know if I can get it moved in time. So, in the mean time, my thought was to put a layer or two of pallets inside and then plywood to create a floor, which I can then put a pretty thick layer of bedding down without it getting wet. I'm worried about the moisture though. The shed itself has two windows, but we are going to drill a couple more ventilation holes near the top and cover those with hardware cloth. THEN I thought, for the moisture that does leak in under the pallets, what about adding salt? Would that make a difference? They wouldn't be able to get to it because it would be under the makeshift floor. Does this sound like something that will work temporarily over the winter? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! TIA!

 

[lazy gardener]

Bee, I've ordered 2 tarps like the one you showed. Can't wait for them to arrive. One will go over the green house, will use 4 mil to close in the ends, then draw the 14 mil. tarp around the ends like a Connastoga wagon. The other will go over the top of my 6 x 7 tractor that's got greens planted under it in the garden. I'll wrap the sides with 4 mil, so I can access it through the top any time during the winter. Looking forward to some salads in March!

 

[cicknmama]

I have a question for you guys! This is the shed we are going to use as a coop for our 3 big girls this winter. We live in NC, so there's a lot of humidity, but usually only a handful of days that get into the teens during the colder months. The problem I'm having right now, is that when it rains a lot, some water pools up in the shed. We need to move it, but there's no floor and the entire thing is bolted into the concrete. I don't know if I can get it moved in time. So, in the mean time, my thought was to put a layer or two of pallets inside and then plywood to create a floor, which I can then put a pretty thick layer of bedding down without it getting wet. I'm worried about the moisture though. The shed itself has two windows, but we are going to drill a couple more ventilation holes near the top and cover those with hardware cloth. THEN I thought, for the moisture that does leak in under the pallets, what about adding salt? Would that make a difference? They wouldn't be able to get to it because it would be under the makeshift floor. Does this sound like something that will work temporarily over the winter? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! TIA!

I think the pallet idea is a good one. At least to keep their feet up off the concrete. Can you also sand bag around the shed to help keep water out? Also wondering if a layer of thick plastic on the concrete floor might help with humidity? Not sure, might cause more? I would for sure add more ventilation.

 

[lazy gardener]

Where is the moisture getting in? Is the ground wet in that area? If you're going to be moving it, will it be moved to a dryer place, or is the building it'self leaking? I strongly suggest that you DON'T use any salt. It will mix with the water, and then you'll have problems with salt leaching out into the surrounding ground. Chickens can not process much salt. It would be toxic to them. Are those windows covered with hardware cloth? I assume that you'll leave them open at least part way except for those very cold nights? I don't even think about closing my windows until the temp gets below 20 degrees. Then, I open them up during the day unless it's extremely cold.